Automatic phonograph



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Eatented Apr. 9, .1946

2,398,010 AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Carl G. Johnson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to 3. P.

See'burg Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 11, 1939, Serial No. 250,311

18 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic phonographs which are adapted to play a plurality of records, one after the other, without intermediate manual manipulation or adjustment.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention means are provided whereby a plurality of records may be supported above a turntable, onto which they are dropped and played in succession.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved phonograph of this type.

In phonographs of this type the records are supported above the turntable by means of supports, one or more of which are movable to release the lowermost record so that it may drop on the table. Associated with each movable support is another movable support which enters between the lowermost record and the records thereabove so as to prevent the last mentioned records from dropping onto the table when the lowermost record falls. Considerable dimculty has been experienced since the second movable support is frequently out of alignment with the plane of contact between the two lowermost records. This dimculty is frequently exaggerated owing to certain of the records being warped. This dimculty is also accentuated when the movbodying my invention, the supporting arms being shown in the manner they are located when all the records have been played;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with certain elements associated with the arms removed for the sake of'clarity, the arms being shown in normal playing supports are adapted to operate with records a of different diameters, such as the conventional 10" and 12" records, because the point of contact of the second movable support .with the stack of records must, in such machines, be located at a substantial distance from the point of support provided by the first movable support.

The present invention has for one of its objects to remove these difficulties.

When a phonograph of this type is adapted to play 10" and 12" records, a problem is presented in that the 12" records, are normally definitely thicker than the 10" records.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the records are located so that the second movable support is located substantially at the upper surface of the lowermost record, when it is about to enter the stack of rec-' ords, irrespective of whether the lowermost record is a 10" or 12" record.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple means whereby the phonograph may be set for the playing of a certain desired number of records.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple means whereby the phonograph mech-I anism is automatically stopped when all the records have been played.

Other objects, advantages the invention will appear from'the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a phonograph emand capabilities or mg. position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view showing the mechanism on the underside of the motor board, the section being taken on the line 3'-3 of Figure 11;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail plan view taken on the line' 4-4 of Fig. 9, showing the main cam and associated elements in the position they occupy at the end of the playing of a 12" record;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the elements in the position they occupy after the machine has stopped, the elements associated with the cam being set for the playing of a 10" record;

Fig. 6 is a plan view on a larger scale, showing one pair of movable supporting arms in the position they occupy during the playing of a 10" record;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the arms in record dropping position after a 12" record has been dropped;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 18, showing the normal relation between one of the movable supporting arms and its follower member;

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2, showing the special control mechanism associated with one of the pairs of movable arms;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 2, showing other portions of the mechanism shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on theline H-ll of Fig. 3, showing a portion of the drive mechanism below the motor board;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line l2l2 of Fig. 4, showing the clutch in elevation and in the relation it occupies during the playing of a record;

Fig. 13 is a sectional plan view of the clutch mechanism taken on the line l3|3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 12, showing the clutch in its clutched relation during record-changing operation;

Fig. 15 is a sectional plan view taken on the line l5|5 of Fig. 14, showing the elements of Fig. 13 in the position they occupywhen the clutch is engaged;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line l6l6 of Fig. 1, showing the manner in which the tone arm is mounted and actuated;

Fig, 17 is a sectional plan view taken on the line Il-I'l of Fig. 16; I

Fig. 18 is a plan view corresponding to Figs.

6 and 7, showing the arms in the playing position for a 12" record;

Fig. 19 is a similar view showing the manner in which the follower of the second arm engages a record prior to the dropping of the record;

Fig. 20 is a similar view showing the manner in which a switch is actuated to stop the operation of the machine when no record remains in the magazine;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified second movable arm and a modified follower, the record engaging portions of the follower being shown in detail;

Fig. 22 is a sectional view taken on the line 2222 of Fig. 21, showing the follower of Fig. 21 in engagement with the lowermost 12" record and the second arm being about to enter the magazine above that record;

Fig. 23 is a sectional view taken on the line 23-23 of Fig. 21, showing the follower of Fig. 21 in engagement with the lowermost 10" record and the second arm being about to enter the magazine above that record;

Fig. 24 is an elevational view of the end of the follower shown in Fig. 21, as viewed on the line 2424 of Fig. 21; and

Fig. 25 is a wiring diagram.

Referring to the drawings, the phonograph comprises a turntable which is rotatable above a motor board 3|. The turntable is provided with an elongated center pin 32 which extends from the turntable upwardly through the magazine position of the records which are to be played. The turntable is mounted on the vertical shaft 33 which extends through the motor board 3| and is mounted in suitable bearings on a frame 34. This frame is suspended by means of springs 35 from the motor board 3|.

The shaft 33 is driven by a motor 35 which is carried by the frame 34. This shaft carries a worm 31 which meshes with a worm gear 38. The

worm gear 38 is rigidly mounted on a shaft 39 mounted on hearings on the frame 34. The shaft 39 rigidly carries a slotted arm 40 which is adapted to receive within its slot a crank pin 4| which is rigidly mounted on a shaft 42. The shaft 42 is normally in substantial alignment with the shaft 39, but the operative connection between them is sumeiently articulated to enable the frame 34 to move resiliently when subjected to shocks and vibrations.

The tone arm 43 is mounted above the motor board 3| so as to play the records which are dropped upon the turntable 33. The tone arm 43, which is provided with a pick-up and needle of any suitable kind, may suitably comprise an inverted channel member. Near the end remote from the pick-up the tone arm is pivotally mounted on a horizontal aids for example, by a pin 44 to a bracket 48. This bracket is rigidly mounted on the upper end of a sleeve 41 which is rotatably mounted within a hollow standard 48 so as to provide the vertical axis about which the tone arm revolves as it moves across the face of the record.

be raised away from the record or records on the turntable and that when the cam track 5| permits the tone arm to move downwardly, the needle engages the topmost record on the turntable.

The bracket 45 is provided with a boss 53 in which slides a vertical bolt 54. A compression spring 55 is mounted around the upper portion of the boss 53 and its upper end is connected to the upper end of the bolt 54. The bolt 54 is provided with a relatively large head 55 which underlies a flange 51 on the standard 48. The spring 55 normally opposes the weight of the tone arm so that the appropriate pressure is applied upon the needle during playing. When, however, the tone arm is elevated by the rod 49, the plate 50 moves away from the upper ends of the spring 55 and the bolt 54, and the compression of the spring is then applied by the head 53 of the bolt 54 upon the flange 51. This engagement provides a certain amount of friction which opposes translational movement of the elevated tone arm so that it does not overrun when manipulated by the means hereinafter described.

At its lower end the sleeve 41 rigidlycarries two arms 58 and 59. The arm 59 carries an upstanding pin 60 which is adapted to engage the downwardly turned end of a lever 6|. The purpose of this lever will be hereinafter described. It is sufficient to mention here that it serves to return the tone arm to initial position for a 10" or for a 12" record.

The arm 58 carries a depending pin 52 which is adapted to cooperate with a peripheral cam 33 on the main cam member 52. The cam member 52 rotates in counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5. It will readily be understood that when the rise 64 of the cam 63 moves past the pin 52, that pin will be carried outwardly, swinging the arms 53 and 59 into the position they occupy in Fig. 5. When this position is attained the pin 60 swings the lever 6| in clockwise direction against the action of the strong spring 65. When the cam member 52 has almost completed one revolution, the cam fall 66 moves past the pin 52 and the lever 6| is moved by the spring 65 so as to spring the arm 59 into position for locating the tone arm into initial playing position for a 10" record or for a '12" record. The manner in which the movement of lever II is regulated will be hereinafter more fully described.

The cam-member 52 is rigidly mounted on a vertical shaft 61, upon which is also rigidly mounted a bevel gear 53. Thebevel gear meshes with a bevel gear 69 which is rigidly mounted on a shaft 10. The shafts 31 and 10 are supported by bearings in a frame 1| carried on the underside of the motor board 3|. The frame 1| also carries the shaft 42 which is arranged in alignment with the shaft 10. The shaft 42 is driven continuously by the motor 36. In order to provide for the intermittent rotation of the main cam 52, the shafts 42 and 10 are provided with clutch mechanism which will now be described.

The clutch mechanism is best illustrated in Figs. 11 to 15, inclusive. rigidly mounted thereon a spur wheel 12, the teeth of which are located within a circular flange 13 which projects laterally from a disc 14. The disc 14 is integra1 with a hub 15 which is rigidly mounted on a shaft 10. The shaft 42 may conveniently project into the hub 15. as shown in Fig. 11. A dog 15 is pivotally mounted on the disc 14. and, is provided with a detent 11 at one end which is adapted to project through a gap The shaft 42 ha8 18 in the flange 18 so as to engage one of the teeth of the wheel 12, as best seen in Fig. 14.

The dog 18 is biased towards it wheel engaging position by means of a spring 19. The other end of the dog 18, that is, the end remote from the detent TI, is relatively long and projects beyond the disc 14. Thi projecting end of the dog is adapted to be engaged and arrested by a pin 88 which is carried by a lever 8|. The spur wheel 12 i driven in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 12 and 14, by the motor. Consequently, when the do. I8 i engaged with the wheel 12 it is carried in the same direction. When the pin 88 is moved into dog-engaging position it engages the projecting end of the dog, with the result that the detent I1 is withdrawn from the having an eccentric end groovewhich does not wheel I2 and the driveof the disc 14 is arrested. I

This drive is not resumed until the pin 88 is displaced from its position shown in Fig. 13 to its position shown in Fig. 15. I

The disc 14 carries a cam member 82 which is adapted to cooperate with a pin 83 also carried by the lever 8|. The pins 88 and 83' are so located that the cam 82 cooperating with the pin 88 throws the lever 8| into position to locate the pin 88 in dog-engaging position. Conversely, the movement of the dog 88 out of dog-engaging position brings the pin 88 into the position shown in Fig. 15 so that it is engaged and actuated by the cam 82 as the disc 18 moves towards its position of arrestment, which i shown in Fig. 12.

The lever 8| is pivotally mounted on the motor board and at one end it is provided with two depending arms uponwhich the pins 88 and 83 are mounted. The lever 8| is biased towards the position shown in Fig. 4, which corresponds to the position shown in Figs. 14 and 15, by means of a spring 88. When in this position it abuts against a stop 85. This stop also serves as an abutment for a latch lever 88 which is biased towards latching position by means of a spring 8?. It will readily be understood from Figs. 4

and 5 that when the lever 8| is rotated slightly in clockwise direction as viewed in these figures, the latch 88 will move towards the stop 85 and will hold the lever 8| in position corresponding to Figs. 12 and 13. This movement is effected by the cam member, 82 on the disc 18, as has been previously described.

The latch 88 is constituted by one arm of a bell crank lever, the other arm 88 of which carries a downwardly extending pin 89. The arm 88 also carries a member 88 having a serrated edge. The arm 58 which'moves with the translational movement of the tone arm rigidly and adjustably carries an abutment 9|. This abutment is so arranged that when the tone arm moves to a position suiliciently near the center of the turntable, the abutment 9| engages the Pin 89 and swings the bell crank lever 8888 into unlatching position, whereupon the lever 8| and the pins 88 and 83 move from their position shown in. Fig. 13 into their position shown in Fig. 15. Consequently, the dog 18 is released and its detent 11 moves from the position shown in Fig. 12 into the position shown in Fig. 14. Consequently, the main cam 52 is driven for one revolution. When the end of that revolution approaches, the cam 82 swings the lever 8| into the position shown in Figs. 3, l1, l2 and 13, this lever being latched in this position by the latch 88. The pin 88 now engages the dog 18 and moves it out of engagement with the wheel 12 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 12. Therefore, the main cam 82 remains inoperative until the latch extend towards the center of the record far enough to bring the abutment 9| into' engage ment' with the pin 89, I haveprovided the serrated member 98 on the arm 88. The serrated member 88 is adapted to be engaged by a dog 92 which is pivotally mounted on the arm 58., The dog 92 has a sharp point which is adapted to be biased lightly towards the serrated member 88 by a light spring 88. It will readily be understood with reference to Fig. 4, that when the arm 58 moves in the clockwise direction the dog 92 will slip over the serrated member 98. When, however, the arm'58 moves in the counterclockwise direction, the latch 88 will be rotated in counterclockwise direction and the lever 8! will be released so that the clutch engages and the cam member 52 is rotated for a single revolution. It will, of course, be understood that this counterclockwise movement of the arm 58 occurs whenever the needle runs into an eccentric end groove after a record has been played.

In order to insure the stoppage of the main cam 52 at proper position, I provide an arm 84 pivotally mounted on a bracket 95 on the under side of the motor board 8|. One end of this arm is biased upwardly by means of a spring 98. The other end carries a projecting pin 91 which is adapted to bear upon the upper face of the cam track 5|. The dog'18 is adapted to be withdrawn from the teeth of the wheel 12 when the pin 89 has reached the bottom of the fall 88 of the cam track 5|, and is supported by the lower dwell 99.

Consequently, the tone arm is not elevated by the pin 89 and it may cooperate with the record for reproduction in the usual manner.

In this position of the cam member 52, that is, the playing position, the pin 82 is located between the rise 84 and the fall 88 on the lateral cam member 83, so that the tone a'rmis free to move over the face of the record during playing. The pin 91, being pressed downwardly on the fall 88when the clutch is disengaged, cooperates with the inclined surface of the fall 88 to bring the cam member 52 into exact position.

When the clutch is engaged, in the manner previously described, and the rotation of the main cam member 52 begins, the lower end of the pin 49 moves up over a cam raise M8 and for the greater part of the revolution it is held at a relatively high location by means of the elevated dwell 8| on the cam track 8|. Consequently, the tone arm is elevated away from the record and remains away until after a new record has been upon the turntable 88 and a plurality of records are loadeduipon arms 8 which are mounted above the turntable so as to extend over the playing position of records of both sizes, as shown in Fig. 1. As previously pointed out, the center pin 82 extends upwardly through the records thus located so that they are maintained in axial alignment with the turntable 8|.

In the present embodiment of the invention the records which are to be played are carried on three arms I02 or on three associated arms IIO. It must be understood, however, that any desired number of supports may be provided. Each arm I02 is rigidly mounted by means of a boss I03 upon the upper threaded end of a sleeve I04. This upper end of the sleeve I04 is provided with fiat faces and the boss I03 and the mounted end of the arm IIO are provided with openings conforming to the shape of the upper end as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, so that they are maintained rigidly mounted upon the sleeve I04 by a nut on the upper end of said sleeve. The sleeve I04 is rotatably mounted in a standard I05 which may suitably form part of a casting I06 which is mounted on the motor board 8 I.

The three supports are in effect record escapement means and are similar in construction and operation and, consequently, only one will be described, being that one on the right-hand side of Fig. 1. This particular support is associated with certain additional mechanism which will hereinafter be described. As first described, the support means hereinafter described with reference to Figs. 9 and 10 is common to all the support members.

Below the boss I03 a, boss I! is rotatabl mounted on the sleeve I04. This boss has a relatively movable engagement with the upper end of the standard I and the lower end of the boss I08. The boss I0! is provided with a relatively thick arm or element I08 which is offset upwardly relative to the boss I01, as best seen in Fig. 10. The arm I08 is provided with a record-engaging head I08 which will be hereinafter more particularly described. It may here be noted, however, that the arm I08 is associated with a record-supporting arm IIO which is a blademember adapted to enter between the lowermost record and the record immediately above it before the associated arm I02 clears the bottommost record. The arms I02 and H0 must, therefore, be sufficiently long to insure the ent y of the arm IIO into the stack of records before the associated arm I02 clears the smallest record, as is shown in Fig. 19. I

The arm I08 is biased away from the records into the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1

and 2, by means of a spring III which is connected to the arm and to a bracket II2 which is integral with the standard I08. The boss I01 carries a radially projecting arm Ill which is adapted to engage stop formations provided on the bracket H2, for example, within a well formation H4 in said-bracket. Consequently, the arm I08 normally remains in the position shown in Fig. 1 and may be displaced from that position inwardly so as to come into contact with the lowermost record, be it a larger or a smaller record, and into a still further inward position with reference to the center of the turntable, that position being shown in Fig. 20 and being only attained when no' records remain supported above the turntable.

The arm IIO, which has a relatively sharp en-- tering portion I15, is located immediately above the arm I08 and it has a drive or frictionalconnection with the arm I08 so that when'the arm IIO moves toward the recordto be released, the arm I08 does likewise. When the arm Ill is arrested by contact with the lowermost record,

that arm is moved back by its spring I II to its initial position shown'in Figs. 1 and 2.

Each sleeve I04 rigidly carries a gear I I8 below the motor board 3|. These gears are connected by suitable mechanism so that they are oscillated in one direction and in the other direction in unison. This means may suitably com-' prise a yoke member I I1 slidably mounted on the under side of the motor board by means of pins IIO which pass through slots H9 and guide the yoke for straight line reciprocal movement. The yoke member III carries three racks I20 which are in mesh with the gears H6. The three ears are thus driven from the record support shown in the right-hand side of Fig. 1. Since the actuating means for this support is individual thereto, description of the same will be deferred until after the functions and operation of the arm I08 have been completely described.

It will be noticed that the arm tiltis relatively thick and that it is in substantial alignment with the arm I02 and extends above that arm to a certain extent, as can be seen in Fig. 9. The head I09 of the arm I08 is provided with two sloping faces I2I and I22. The lower portions of these faces are located at a lower level than the upper surface of the arm I02. The upper portions of these faces are located slightly above the level of the upper surface of the arm I02.

When the lowermost record is a 10" record the face I22 is brought into contact with it, as is shown in Fig. 19. The faces I22 of the three arms I08 cam the stack of records upwardly from their position of support on the arms I02. The manner in which the records are raised is suggested in Fig. 23. The arm I08 is arrested by the engagement of the edge-of the lowermost record by the wall: I23 adjacent the upper portion of the face I22. The height of this wall i so arranged that the upper surface of the arm I08 is slightly lower than the upper surface of the lowermost record, which is a 10 record. Consequently, when the arm IIO slides over the top of the arm I08, its sharp entering portion II 5 will be in alignment with the plane of contact between the lowermost record and the record 1 immediately above it.

When the lowermost record is a 12" record the edge of the record is engaged by the face HI and the stack of records is raised from the arms I02 in the manner sug ested in Fig. 22. At the inner end of the face 2I is provided a wall I24 which is somewhat higher than the wall I28 so that when the arm IIO slips over the top of the arm I08, its entering portion II5 will be very closely in alignment with the plane between the two bottom records in the magazine. The difference in height of the walls I23 and I24 enables the knife-like end H5 of the arm IIO to engage the records precisely, notwithstanding the fact that the 12" records are somewhat thicker than are the 10" records.

the arm I I0 continues to move until it attains the As best seen in Figs. 23 and 24, the arm no is preferably located in a recess I25 provided on the upper face of the arm I08. Consequently, when the lowermost record is a 10" record and the record immediately above it 15a 12" record, as shown in Fig. 23, the arm H0 is introduced safely below it, notwithstanding that the portion projecting over the 10" record is warped downwardly to some degree. When the arm I88 is arrested by the engagement of its well I28 or I24 with the edge of the lowermost record, the

arm H0, continuing to move inwardly, rises out orthe recess I25 and passes over the upper edge of the arm I68 in between the two bottom records.

As shown in Figs. '1, 8, l8 and 19, I may mount a ball I26 so that it projects into alignment with the bottom of the recess I25 and to a position substantially corresponding to the uppermost edge of the arm I08. The ball I26 serves as a cam to elevate the arm H out of the recess I25 when the arm I08 is arrested by the lowermost record. The ball I26 also serves as a cam for aiding the arm IIO to pass over the uppermost edge I21 of the arm I08 when the arm IIO returns to its normal position. It will be understood that when the arm I I0 moves into the stack of records and away from the a e latter arm, being freed from frictional engagement with the arm III), snaps back into its'initial position under the influence of the spring III.

If desired, the ball I26 may be omitted, in which case the arm H0 is elevated out of the recess I25 by the curved or cam formation of this recess, as can be seen in Figs. 23 and 24. When the arm H0 moves back to its initial position,. that is, the position asshown in full lines in Figs. 2 and 6, it approaches the normal position of the arm I08, which normal position is defined by the engagement of the projection I I3 with the stop at one end of the well I I4, as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 18. The arm H0, being forced back to normal position, is elevated over the ball I26. If this ball is omitted, as is illustrated in I Fig. 21, the arm I 08 is preferably provided with a sloping face I28, which efiects the elevation of the returning arm IIO over the uppermost edge of the arm I06.

Cover members I29 are preferably provided on each record support. These cover members are carried by the brackets H2 and are arranged to overlie the arm I08 and the arm H0 in their normal position, which position is shown in full lines in Fig. 2. Since the arms H0 are usually obscured by the stack of records in the magazine. the record changing arms are relatively concealed and do not impair the appearance of the machine.

The mechanism now to be described is associated with one of the magazine supporting members only, being that supporting member shown to the right in Fig. 1 and illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. The gear N6 of this supporting element is rigidly mounted on the sleeve I04 by means of a set screw I30 which extends through its hub. Between the gear H6 and the motor board BI is mounted a hub I3I through which the sleeve I04 extends freely.

- In the other supporting members the hub I3I is merely a spacer. In this particular supporting member the hub I3! is, in effect, the hub of an arm I32 which includes a downwardly extending portion I33 (Fig. 10). Upon the under side of the main cam member 52 is provided an eccentric I94. This eccentric receives in a shouldered re-' cess I35 an eccentric ring I36. This ring is maintained in position by means of a plate I31 secured to the lower. face of the eccentric member I34, as shown in 16. The eccentric ring I36 is integral with an arm I36 which is pivotally mounted to the downwardly directed element I33 cf the arm I32. It will readilybe understood from Fig. 3 that each time ber 52 rotates in the counter-clockwise direction the arm i32'is oscillated first in clockwise and then in counter-clockwise direction. The arms I02 and H0 are consequently oscillated from the full line position shown in Fig. 2 into the dotted the main cam mom-- tact with the latch I46 even when wardly and the motor I39 which slidably extends through the sleeve I I04. This shaft is biased upwardly by a spring I40 which engages a collar I4I keyed to the lower end of the shaft I39. This collar I4I rigidly carries an upstanding pin I42. This pin normally extends through an opening I43 in the gear H6 and terminates within-an opening I44 in the hub I3I, normally connecting the hub I3I rigidly to the gear H6 and the sleeve I04.-

The upper end of the shaft I39 extends through and beyond the cover I29 and its upper end is provided with an actuating knob I45. When the knob I45 is moved downwardly, the pin I42 is withdrawn out of the opening I44 in the hub I3I. The handle I45 may now be turned to rotate the pinion I I6 and also the other pinions I [6 to move the arms I02 and H0 simultaneously into desired position. In this way these arms may be moved into their dot-and-dash positions shown in Fig. l, and it will readily be understood that all the records may be removed vertically from the turntable. To resetthe arms I02 and H0 for the reception of records, the knob I45 is rotated in the opposite direction until the pin I42 is brought into alignment with the opening I44, whereupon the spring I40 moves the shaft I39 upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 9.

Also associated with the record supporting means shown'in Figs. 9 and 10 is a switch which automatically stops the-motor whenever the last record has been played This switch comprises two contact leaves I46 and I41, the upper leaf I41 being normally biased away from the leaf I46. These leaves are located in the circuit of the motor. The leaf I41 is adapted to be maintained in contact with the leaf I46 by means of a latch I48. This latch is pivotally mounted at I49 on the bracket H2 and its upper end extends through an opening I50 in the-bracket H2.

The latch I48 is biased towards latching position by means of a spring I5I and it is provided with a detent I52 at its lower end to enable it to engage the upper face of the leaf I41 to hold it in engagement with the leaf I46. The boss I01 is provided with a projecting arm I53. As best seen in Fig. 19, the arm I53 does not make conthe arm I08 moves into position to engage a 10" record. When, however, no record remains upon the turntable, the arm I08 is enabled to move into its extreme position shown in Fig. 20 and in this case the arm I53 displaces the latch lever- I48 so as to remove the detent I52 outof engagement with the leaf I41. This leaf promptly springs upcircuit is broken until it is again reset by means .of a button I54 carried by the leaf I41 and projecting out of a housing I55 in which the leaves I43 and I41 are enclosed.

Means are also provided whereby the phonograph tive playing of a definite number of records. This means may suitably be associatedwith the record supportingmechanism shown in Figs. 9

and 10. It may. comprise aknob I56 which ismay be set for the automatic and consecu- At its lower end the shaft I6I has rigidly mounted thereon the boss of a projecting arm I66. This arm projects beneath the lateral cam 63 of the main cam member 52 into the path of a pin I64 which projects downwardly from said lateral cam.

The escapement member I66 and the arm I66 which is rigid therewith are biased into the position shown in Fig. 3 by means of a spring I65. It will readily be understood that when the main cam member 52 is approximately at the mid point of its rotation, that is, when thearms II6 are in their full line position as shown in Fig. 1, the pin I64 and spring I65 oscillate the arm I66 and the escapement member I66 to move the escapement wheel I 56 the distance corresponding to one tooth in the counter-clockwise direction. The escapement wheel I56 has a small cam member I66 on its under side. When the escapement wheel I66 is in zero position, the cam member I66 engages and depresses a stud I61 carried on the lower leaf I68 of a switch which is constituted by said leaf I66 and an upper leaf I66. These leaves are connected in series with the motor and in series with the leaves I46 and I41. Thus, it will be seen that when the escapement wheel I66is in one position, the leaf I 66 will be depressed out of contact with the leaf I66 and the motor will be stopped.

The knob I 66 is provided with a peripheral series of numerals corresponding'to the number of records desired to be played. To set the phonograph for the playing of a certain desired number of records, the knob I56 is rotated so as to bring the desired number opposite a mark on the cover I26. After each record is played, the escapement is actuated in the counter-clockwise direction the distance of one tooth and when the desired number of records has been played the escapement wheel I56 has been moved into position to bring the cam member I66 into contact withthe pin I61 and separate the switch leaf I66 from the switch leaf I66.

If the knob I56 has been set to correspond to the number of records on the arms I I6 or to a lessser number, the leaf I66 will be moved downwardly when that number of records has been played and the machine will be stopped with the arms I I6 in the position shown in Fig. 1. If, however, the knob I56 is initially set to a greater number than there are records on the arms II6, the motor will continue to operate until the arm I66 is moved into the position shown in Fig. 20, whereupon the leaf I41 will be released to move upwardly away from the leaf I46.

Means are provided wherebythe initial position of the tone arm is automatically regulated for 10" and 12" records. This mechanism is arranged so that the initial position is automatically set for a 10" record except when the lowermost record is a 12 record. This mechanism includes a semiecircular member I16 which is pivotally supported on the under side of the arm I62 of the support mechanism illustrated in Figs. 6 and 10. The member I 16 extends around the boss I66 and its Internal diameter is somewhat greater than that of the boss so that it may be moved to a certain limited extent about its pivot "I.

The portion of the member I16 which extends beneath the arm H6 is provided with a bearing surface I12 which extends upwardly so that it may engage the periphery of the lowermost record in the event that it is a 12" record. Thus, when the arm H6 is entering the stack above the lowermost record, the projection I12 is enaged by that record if it is a 12" record, with the result that the member I16 is swung in counter-clockwise direction about its pivot HI, and the extremity of the member I 16 remote from the surface I12 is moved outwardly so as to move the upper end of a lever I13 outwardly from its normal position shown in Fig. 10. The lever I13 is pivotally mounted on a housing I 14 located adjacent the standard I 65.

The upper end of the lever I13 is provided with a manually operable handle I15 whereby the same displacement of the lever I16 may be effected by hand. The lower end of the lever I16 is operatively connected to one end of a lever I16 by means of a rivet I13 which provides sufficient room for the free movement of the lever I16 about its pivot. The lever I16 is pivotally mounted on the shaft I51 above the motor board 3|, Figs. 5 and 10.

The lever I16 is biased by a spring I11 against the lower end of the lever I16 so that the upper end of that lever is normally biased inwardly. The end of the lever I16 remote from that engaged by the lever I13 is provided with a pin I16 which extends downwardly through an opening I 16 in the motor board 6i This pin is adapted to be engaged by one arm I66 of a three-arm member which is pivotally mounted on a screw I6I which also serves as a pivot for the lever 6|.

The three-arm member comprises an arm I62 which is connected to a spring I63 so directed to bias the arm I66 against the pin I16. The third arm I64 of the three-arm member carries a pin I 65 which is adapted to be actuated by a small cam or hump I66 formed on the exterior of the cam track 5|. As best seen in Figure 4, the hump I66 is located quite close to the pin I65 during the playing of a record, that is, when the main cam member 52 is at rest. Immediately the cam 52 goes into operation, the hump I66 displaces the pin I65 outwardly and the three-arm member is displaced in the clockwise direction.

The arm I86 is provided with two recesses I81 and I 66. It may be here noted that the recess I61 corresponds to the initial playing position of the tone arm for a 12" record and the recess I66 corresponds to the initial playing position for a 10" record. When the arm I 66 is displaced to the right as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5 by the hump I66, the spring I11 moves the lever I16 into the position shown in Fig. 5 and it is held in that position when the arm I66 is returned into contact with the pin I16 by the spring I66. Thus it will be understood that just at the beginning of the record changing operation, the pin I16 is set into the 10" initial playing position and to change the adjustment to correspond to a 12" position, the pin I16 must be moved into the recess I61 of the arm I66. This may be done automatically at a later point in the record changing operation,

that is, by the engagement of the projection I12 with a 12" record about to be dropped onto the turntable, or by manually moving the handle I16 outwardly. It will also be understood that when the handle I15 is moved inwardly, the pin I16 may be moved out of the recess I81 and into the recess I88 to set the mechanism manually for the playing of a record. It will be understood that the spring I83 is sufliciently strong to prevent the movement of the pin I18 from the recess I81 to the recess I88.

As has been previously explained, the lateral cam I63 throws the arm 59 in the counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5, at an early stage in the record changing operation.

This occurs immediately after the hump I86 has set thev pin'I'IB into the 10" initial playing position and it effects the displacement of the lever 6| away from the pin I18, as is shown in Fi 5. When the pin t2 rides down the fall 88 on the lateral cam 68, the spring 65 swings the lever 6| so as to return the tone arm to initial playing position.

If the pin I18 is located in the 12" playing position, as is shown in Fig. 4, the end of the lever 8I is moved so that an abutment I9I engages the pin I18, as shown in Fig. 4, and the leverSI moves to the 12" position shown in Fig. 4. Its engagement with the pin 60 on the arm 59 consequently brings the tone arm to initial playing position for a 12" record. If, however, the pin I18 is moved to 10" position after the hump I88 has passed the pin the handle I15 or as a result of the oscillation of the arm I80 by the hump I85 that is, with the pin I18located in the recess I88, the pin I18 being out of the path of the abutment I9I, the spring 55 throws the arm 6| into contact with a pin I90 the machine automatically plays a 10" record.

I85, either by manual actuation of except when it is set for a 12" record by hand or' depending from the motor board 3| so that the tone arm is moved inwardly to a greater extent to locate it at initial playing position 'for a 10" record. v

I prefer to provide means whereby it is rendered impossible for the needle of the tone arm to descend into contact with the turntable. For this purpose I make the turntable of somewhat smaller radius than the radius of the initial playing groove of a 12". record. Consequently, if the needle descends at initial playing position of a 12" record and there is no 12" record on the turntable, the needle will not engage the tumtable. If the needle descends in the initial playing position for a 10" record; and there is no record on the turntable, it enters into a groove 200 in the turntable 30, this groove being shown in Figs. 9 and 11. v

In both cases the tone arm 43 descends to a lower position than it would if the needle had en gaged a record. This lower position brings an extension 20I of the plate 50 into engagement Will a rod 202 which is mounted on and insulated from the motor board 3 I. The rod 202 is connected to an'electromagnet 203 which is located in cooperative relation to an armature 204 which is carried by the latch 8B,'as shown in Fig. 3. When the magnet 203 is energized, the armature 204 is attracted by it and the clutch is engaged, with the result that the recordchanging cycle is performed by the cam member 52. The result of this cycle is that a record is dropped from the magazine onto the turntable and this record is played in normal manner. It

will, of course, be understood that-the electromagnet 203 is connected toa suitable source oi! electric current and that the circuit is completed through the extension 2M and the mechanism of the machine, to which'the source of electric current is grounded.

I prefer to provide means whereby the phonograph .may be employed to repeat continuouslytion.

either a 10' or a. 12" record when the machine is used as an ordinary phonograph and not as an automatic phonograph. Thus, referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the arms I02 and H0 are in the position they occupy when the phonograph ceases playing. These arms are in the most extreme clockwise position which they occupy during the automatic operation of the machine.

The knob I45-is provided with a pointer 205 which in this position cooperates with indicia indicating setting for automatic operation. If the knob I45 is depressed and rotated in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l, the pin I42 is removed from the opening I44 in the hub I3I and it is moved away from the opening I44 so as to be out of the ambit of that opening. In this why the knob I45 may be adjusted into 10" repeat position and 12" repeat position, as indicated in Fig. 1.

In the 10" repeat position the arms I02and H0 are merely disconnectedfrom the cammember 52 and the periodic rotation of he cam member 52 merely effects the elevation of the tone arm and its return to initial 10" playing posi- This initial 10" playing position is as sured automatically, since, as explained above.

by the presence of a 12" record in the lowermost record position of the magazine.

When the knob I45 is rotated still further in the clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, that is, to bring the extension 205 into 12""repeat position, a 'cam member 206 (Fig. 10) is brought into engagement with an inwardly directed bracket member 201 on the upper end of the lever I13 so as to swing the upper end of this lever outwardly into 12'", position. The outward swingin of the upper end or the lever I13 results in the counter-clockwise swinging of the lever I15, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5. This movement results in the swinging of the pin I18 into the 12 initial playing position shown in Fig. 4. It will be noted that when the cam 52 rotates and the hump I86 engagesthe pin I85 to swing the arm'IBII' away from the pin I18. which occurs during each rotation of the cam member 52 as previously described; the pin I18 does not change its position to the 10" initial playing position shown in Fig. 5. Since the lever I16 is held in the position shown in Fig. 4 by the engagement of the cam 205 with the member 201.

I preferably provide means for holding the knob I45 in the 10.'-' repeat or 12" repeat position. This may suitably be effected by a springpressed member 208 which is adapted to enter into notches 209 and 2 I 0 in the yoke member I I1, when the knob I45 is moved into 10" repeat position or 12" repeat position, respectively.

The operation is as follows: If, in the previous ber of records has been played'which is equal to the number of records on the machine, the motor will be stopped by the arm I53 en ing the lever I48, owing to the fact that no records remain in the magazine. The knob I58 will have the indication l in register with the mark and the leaves I68 and I89 will be in contact, the motor having been stopped by the separation of the leaves I41 and I45.

'The relation of the arms I02, I08 and IIII is that shown in Fig. 20. The button I54 is now depressed, with the result that the motor goes into operatiomcarryingthe arm IIO away from the arm I08. The arm I" now springs into its full line position shown in Fig. 1.

normal position and the leaf I41 is latched in contact with the leaf I48. Operation of the motor continues until the arm I I is brought into its When that position is attained, the pin I84 actuates the arm I53, moving the knob I58 to zero position.

The corresponding movement of the escapement wheel I58 effects the depression of the leaf I88 away from the leaf I88. The mechanism is now in arrested relation corresponding to Fig. 5. This condition of the mechanism is the same as if the machine had been stopped after playing the same number of records out of a larger number of records placed on the machine. To reload the machine the knob I45 is depressed and the arms I02 and H0 are rotated into their dot-and-dash position shown in Fig. l. The records may now be removed by vertical movement.

The new batch of records which is to be played is then applied to the machine. The first record to be played is placed upon the turntable. The arms H0 and I02 are then returned to their full line position shown in Fig. 1, by reverse rotation of the knob I45, and the remainder of the batch of records to be played is placed upon the three arms I I0, whereupon the pin I42 enters into the recess I44 of the boss I3I, thus operatively connecting all the arms I02 and H0 to the main cam 52.

The handle I15 is actuated, if necessary, to set the tone arm return for a 10" or a 2" record, depending upon the size of the first record which has been placed on the turntable. If the first record is a 12" record, the handle I15 is pulled outwardly, which brings the pin I18 into the recess I81 of the arm I80. If the first record is a 10" record, the arm I15 is pushed inwardly in case it has its outward position, with the result that the pin I18 is brought into the recess I88.

The knob I58 is now rotated to bring the number corresponding to the number of records which it is desired to play into register with the mark on the cover I29. The rotation of the knob I55 permits the leaf I58 to engage the leaf I88, thus closing the motor circuit. The main cam member 52 now starts a semi-rotation from-its position in Fig. into its position in Fig. 4. The consequent displacement of the eccentric I34 moves the arms III] and I02 into their full line position shown in Fig. 2, and the records above the tumtable drop onto, the arms I 02. Toward the end of this semi-rotation, the pin 82 rides over the fall 86 of the lateral cam 83, the spring 85 moving the arm 8I in counterclockwise direction against the pin 80 on the arm 58. The arm 8| is arrested in the manner previously described, that is, either by the pin I18 or by the pin I90, depending upon the setting of the lever I13 for a 12" or a record.

As the main cam member 52 approaches its position shown in Fig. 4, the cam 82 on the disc 14 engages the pin 83 and disconnects the clutch in the manner previously described. The main cam member 52 is then stopped in the position shown in Fig. 4. As the cam member 52 moves into this position, the pin 49 descends the fall 98 on the cam track 5|, and the tone arm moves vertically downward, bringing its needle into the outer grooves of the record. The record is now reproduced, the tone arm moving inwardly over the record, this movement being permitted by the interruption of the cam 83 which allows pin 82 to move inwardly through the path of the cam towards its position in Fig. 4. At the-end of the playing of the record, the latch 88 is actuated in the manner previously described, re-engaging the clutch.

The main cam 52 begins to rotate in the counter-clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 4. The hump I88 on this cam swings the arm I00 so that the lever I18 which carries the pin I18 moves from its position shown in Fig. 4 into its position shown in Fig. 5. The rise I00 on the cam track 5I raises the rod 48 and thereby moves the pick-up upwardly from the record.

. The rise 84 on the lateral cam 83 then engages the pin 62 and swings the tone arm away from the records into the position shown in Fig. 1.

The eccentric I34, moving from the position shown in Fig. 4 into the position shown in Fig. 5, swings the arms I02 and H0 from their full line position in Fig. 2 towards their dot-and-dash position in that figure. In the initial part of this movement each arm I I 0 carries its associated arm I08 into contact with the lowermost of the records supported on the arms I02. If this lowermost record is a 12" record, it is engaged by the inclined faces I2I of the arm I 08, with the result that the stack of records is elevated from the arms I02 as shown in Fig. 22. The arms I 08 are arrested by the engagement of their walls I24 with the edge of the lowermost record.

The elevation of the stack of records locates the upper surface of the lowermost record in alignment with the arms IIO as they rise out of the recesses I25 on the arms I08 and into the stack of records between the two bottom records of the stack, as has been previously described in connection with Fig. 22. After the arms I I0 have thus entered the stack, the projection I12 of the member I10 engages the periphery of the record and is displaced so as to throw the levers I18 and I18 from 10" position to 12" position, these levers having been set in this 10" position at the beginning of rotation of the cam member 52. This relation is shown in Fig. 6.

Continued movement of the arms I02 and H0 into the position shown in Fig. 1 results in the dropping of the lowermost 12" record onto the turntable. This occurs approximately when the main cam member has completed half a revolution and is in the position shown in Fig. 5. The continued revolution of the cam member 52 returns the arms I02 and H0 into their position shown in Fig. 2, and when that position is attained the arms IIO move back into the recesses I25 in the arms I08 and resume their strong frictional engagement with those arms.

In the latter part of the first half of the revolution of the cam member 52, the pin I84, oscillates the lever I88 so that the escapement I59 is moved one tooth towards stopping position and the knob I58 is rotated so that the next lower number is brought into registry with the mark on the cover I28. Towards the end of the complete revolution of the main cam member 52 the pin 82 of the tone arm assembly rides down the cam 68 and the arm 8| moves the tone arm assembly into the initial playing position for a 12" record. Thereafter, the pin 48 rides down the fall 88 of the cam track 5| and the needle is applied to the 12" record on the turntable in initial playing position. At this point the cam 82 disconnects the clutch and the main cam 52 is arrested.

The cycle for a 10" record is substantially similar, but in this case the hump I88 sets the pin I18 and lever I18 into 10" playing position at the beginning of the rotation of the cam member 52, and this setting is not disturbed because the pro- I02 and H are disconnected from their iection I12 does not come into contact with the 10" record about to be dropped onto the turntable. Consequentlywhen the pin 82 rides down the cam fall 66, the arm 5! is permitted to travel a greater distance, that is, until it contacts the Pin I90. ment of the tone arm into initial playing position for a record.

In this record changing cycle the arms "8 travel to a greater extent with the arms I in, with the result that their faces I22 are brought into contact with the lowermost records and efiect the raising of the stack of records until the arms I08 are stopped by the associated walls H3. The faces M2 raise the, stack of records to a slightly greater height than do the faces l2i, so that the arms ililare properly located for-entry into the stack above the somewhat thinner 10" records, as has been previously described in, connection with Fig. 23. It will be understood in both cases that the arms its remain in contact with the records until the arms its have moved away suiiicientiy from the arm Edd to permit these arms to move back to their normal position unoer theinfiuence of their springs it i. 7

its hesbeen previously explained, the machine is brought to a stop in either of two ways. If the knob lit is set for a lesser nummr of records than are applied to the-machine, including the first record placed upon the turntable, then after the indicated number of records has been played the machine goes into the record changing cycle and the pin ltd oscillates the arm its and actuates the escapement 959 so as to bring the projection Mid into engagement with the rod ifil, thereby This greater distance effects-the movedepressingthe leaf its and opcningthe motor circuit. Ii, however, the knob th t is set for the playing of a number of records applied to the machine, including the record placed on the turntebl or for a greater number, then after all the records have been played the machine will go into a record dropping cycle and the arms itz, Hit and its will move into the position shown in Fig. 20, the arm int not being arrested by any record supported by the arms HM. This movement of the arm use brings the 53 into engagement with the latch GM, with the result that the leaf Ml moves upwardly away from the leaf 6%, thus breaking the motor circuit.

If the machine is started with records in the "z and no record on the turntable, the

is will descend in either the l@" initial playnee ing position 01 the 12" initial playin position.

In the former case it will enter into the g oove 20s. If it descends in the 12" playing position the needle will miss the turntable and move below its normal playing position. In either case the electromagnet 203 is energized and the latch 86 is promptly tripped and the cam member 52 is put into rotation. This results in the dropping of. the lowermost record onto the turntable and the playing of that record.

If it is desired to have the machine play a 10" record repeatedly, the knob l is moved to the 10" repeat position shown in Fig. 1. As previously described, this renders the arms I02 and HI stationary and permits the repeated playing of the 10" record, the tone arm 4 being actuated by the cam member 52 in the manner previously described.

I! it is desired to play a 12" record repeatedly. the knob I" is moved still furtherin the clockwise direction-as viewed in Fig. 1, that is, to the 12" repeat position. In this position the arms normal drive and at the same time the cam 205 maintains the lever I13, and consequently the pin H8, in 12" playing position.

Although the invention has been disclosed in connection with the specific details of a embodiment thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an automatic phonograph, in combination, a turntable, an escapement supporting means for maintaining a stack of records above said turntable, said escapement means comprising a member 'having one stack and a second member approximately the thickness of a record thereabove and located in corresponding relation laterally to said stack, means for actuating bring the second member into the stack above the lowermost record and to bring the first said member clear of the lowermost record whereby said record is freed to fall on tothe turntable, and an element associated with the second member adapted to engage the lowermost record and support the stack at a predetermined height when said second member is entering the stack.

2. In an automatic phonograph, in. combination, a turntable, an escapernent supporting means for maintaining a stack of records above said turntable, said escapement means comprising a member having one position below said stack and a second. member approximately the thickness of a record thereabove and located in corresponding relation laterally to said stack, means for actuating said escapement means to bring the second member into the stack above the lowermost record and to bring the first said member clear of the lowermost record whereby said record is freed to fall on to the turntable, and an element associated bar and movable therewith, said element having a cam surface adapted to engage the lowermost record adjacent the position at which the second member enters the stack, to elevate the stack slightly and to support the stack at a definite position while said second member is entering the stack.

3. man automatic phonograph, incombination, a turntable, escapement supporting means for-maintaining a stack of records above said turntable, said escapemeht means comprising members having one position below said stack and second members approximately the thickness of a record thereabove and located in corresDOnding relation laterally to said stack, means for actuating said escapement means to bring the second members into the stack above the lowermost record and to bring the first said members to align the second members with the upper surface of the lowermost record at. their points of entry into the stack.

4. In an automatic phonograph, in combination, a turntable, escapement supporting means preferred position below said 1 said escapement means to with the second mem 

